Book Description
Normandy . . . Arnhem . . . Aachen . . . the Hürtgen Forest . . . the Ardennes Offensive . . . the Reichswald . . . the Ruhr Pocket . . . Only the men of one unit on either side fought in them all--the 116th Panzer Division!
Organized in France in March, 1944 from elements of the 16th Panzer-Grenadier Division and the 179th Reserve Panzer Division, the 116th Panzer Division was one of the relatively rare German armored formations that fought exclusively on the Western Front. As a result, its opponents included some of the most formidable and famous US Army units of World War II, including the 1st, 4th, 28th, 29th, and 30th Infantry Divisions, and the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 8th Armored Divisions, to name only some. The 116th also fought the British and Canadians, bitterly contesting the areas around Arnhem and the Reichswald against outfits like the 2d and 3d Canadian Infantry Divisions, the 43d (Wessex) and the 53d (Welsh) Divisions.
The "Greyhound" Division's history has now been meticulously chronicled in narrative form and lavishly documented by the wartime Division Chief of Staff and Operations Officer, Heinz Günther Guderian. This comprehensive history was first published in the German language in 1994, but is now being made available in the English language exclusively by The Aberjona Press, the company Military Heritage magazine pronounced "Publisher of the Year 2000" in the Small Publisher Category.
Rarely does the student of the Second World War (or any war) have the opportunity to see military operations through the eyes of the men who planned and directed the battles at the tactical level. Thanks to General Guderian's keen recollections and careful research, readers of From Normandy to the Ruhr can do exactly this.
Rarer still is the author who can lucidly and comprehensively analyze and explain the course of those battles. As the Division's First General Staff Officer throughout its training and combat, General Guderian possessed a unique point of view to do just that. Beyond the tactical decisions—and consequences of those decisions in the deadly and unforgiving arena of WWII armored combat—the author also explains the institutional and political influences on his division's leadership. General Guderian sheds stunning new light on the reasons, operational and political, behind the fateful deployment of the elements of the German armored reserve before and during the early days of OVERLORD. He details the intrigue behind his Division Commander's reliefs for cause (twice in two months!) and the impact of the accompanying turbulence on the division in combat. Perhaps most importantly of all, the author provides graphic, specific evidence of the catastrophic consequences of political correctness when it infects the chain of command and results in lost battles and squandered lives. As the son of a famous general officer who had a close but dynamic relationship with Hitler, the author was especially well placed for observing and judging this insidious phenomenon.
Most unusual of all is the combat veteran who can honestly and candidly examine what went right, what went wrong, and why . . . and present his findings for all to see and judge. Fortunately, as a life-long soldier in the Wehrmacht and later, the West German Bundeswehr, Major General Guderian is just such a man.
This hard cover book is has been expertly translated by Ulrich and Esther Abele (Ulrich Abele's previous translation credits include Five Years, Four Fronts: The War Years of Major Georg Grossjohann, proclaimed by Military Heritage magazine as the best non-US military memoir of 2000). At 648 pages, with 26 highly detailed maps and 64 photos of the unit in action and key members of the Division, From Normandy to the Ruhr is not only the definitive history of this important formation, but much more.
Customer Reviews:
THE book on Panzer Warfare.......2007-06-06
"From Normandy to the Ruhr" provides unique insights into the decision-making process of a Panzer Division. The 116th Panzer Division is of particular interest because it fought in just about all the most decisive battles of the Western Front in 1944-45.
Guderian examines both victories and failures in an interesting way.
The 26 maps will be much appreciated by armor pros and wargamers.
An extra plus for the beautiful cover and general layout. There are portraits of all Knight's Cross holders of the division. My only negative comment would be that some of the photos should have been better reproduced and larger.
If you are a professional armor officer, serious wargamer or Panzer warfare buff - this book is for you.
Unique and controversial insite on a German armored division.......2006-11-07
Guderian's history is among the best histories of the German Army in World War 2 on the western front. Being the former chief of staff of the division he was well placed to give insite into the stenghts and weakness of the German defense on D-Day. His book includes some controversial personal reflections on Fieldmarshal Erwin Rommel and General Graf v. Schwerin.
I gave this book 5-stars for the simple fact it is one of the few German army histories that gives a factual no-nonsense reflection on the performance of the German army in World War 2 but lacks the revisionst cliches'.
This book I would recommend to those that are interested in the Allies on the western front as it gives unique insite into how and why the Allies were successful and the reason the Germans failed.
Windhund Division.......2006-06-26
The real story of the 116.Panderdivision Windhund from the qualified point of view of Major Heinz Günther Guderian (later General in the new reformed Bundesheer), son of that General Guderian father of the Blitzkrieg.
Every aspect is discussed, as technical as human.
Every battle is explained in detail, with a large use of military terms, maps and original documents.
Also the difficult realtions between the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and the subordinated units are analized, giving the exact sense of those difficult days at the end of World War Two.
This is the point of reference about the 116.Panzerdivision, only a larger number of pictures should be needed to carry out an outstanding work.
From Normandy to the Ruhr.......2005-08-01
The late General Heinz Günther Guderian wrote the best division history I have ever seen, and I have read many. Every detail of the 116th Panzer Division's operations from its organization in the spring of 1944 through the end of the war in the Ruhr Pocket is covered in this amazingly detailed study. Moreover, the reasons for each tactical decision are laid out in clear terms, whether they were made for purely doctrinal rationale, unfortunate battlefield necessity, or from political influence. It is this richness of explanation that sets Guderian's book apart from all other division histories. In a genre (division histories) dominated by books which are often little more than keepsakes or souvenirs, filled with sentimental versions of the way the authors wish the war would have gone, From Normandy to the Ruhr stands out as an unemotionally recounted day-by-day, blow-by-blow account of how, despite being constituted late in the war and despite being virtually destroyed three times (Normandy, Aachen/The Hürtgen, and the Ardennes), a German panzer division repeatedly rose to the challenges posed by mission after mission. Written by the Division's 1st General Staff Officer himself, this book provides profound insights into how the German Army was able to remain a formidable foe until the spring of 1945.
As the publisher's ad copy emphasizes, this is NOT a personal memoir by a private or sergeant, or lieutenant. There are some very fine books that fit the "memoir" category, including several by this book's publisher, The Aberjona Press, such as Black Edelweiss, Seven Days in January, The Good Soldier, and Five Years, Four Fronts. However, while exciting to the buff, educational to the student of battlefield actions and reactions, or even titillating to the "war porn" junkie, there is much more to military history than the combat recollections of those who saw action at the foxhole level. Normandy to the Ruhr is a much rarer bird: it is a brilliantly polished tactical history, written by a highly decorated staff officer, which explains the mechanics of war at the tactical level. It is supported by dozens of outstanding maps which allow the reader to follow all of the action, and a very robust photo section, which allows the reader to form a mental image of most of the characters mentioned in the book.
From Normandy to the Ruhr is also a crucially important work because, almost uniquely, it explains the terrible influence of politicos-in this case, Nazi politicians, military and civilian-on the battlefield conduct of war. The meddling, political correctness, and downright blunders foisted upon commanders at all levels by political leaders with a wide variety of agendas other than battlefield success is brilliantly documented in this book.
For readers who wish to know not just the "what" of combat which can be gained from junior soldiers' or leaders' memoirs, but the "why," From Normandy to the Ruhr is a must-read. It is critical reading not only for the student of German operations on the Western Front, but for those interested in the many American and British units which fought the 116th Panzer Division...from Normandy to the Ruhr!
Very detailed.... and boring.......2005-07-26
I suppose this book is for the very serious military scholar or student, who wants a very detailed account of one particular Panzer division formed for the defense of the Allied invasion. It is amazingly dry and dull, however. You are not going to get any sense of what the war was like for the real soldier, but rather the chess piece movement of military units and political games of commanders.
I know there was a lot of finger-pointing after the war and this book is no exception. It is filled with old woman bickering between commanders and it's fair share of Rommel bashing. If you are in military college I would recommend it, if just an enthusiast there are more enthralling books out there.
Product Description
Armored warfare assumed vital importance in World War II, and during the first years of the war despite inferiority in numbers and equipment, the German Army was master. The secret of Germany's early successes and the reason for its eventual failure are disclosed in this analysis by a brilliant former general of the German Army. Major General von Mellenthin, who saw action in every theater of the European war from 1939 to 1945, follows the panzer armies through Poland, France, the Balkans, across the deserts of North Africa and the frozen wastes of Russia, to the final defeat on the Western front. It was the decisive victories of the German panzer divisions in North Africa that taught the Allies the importance of an integrated combat team consisting of tanks, infantry and artillery. Panzer Battles provides an especially vivid account of the legendary desert battles fought by Rommel. The continued timeliness of Mellenthin's work was brought home in the First Gulf War by General Norman Schwarzkopf, who kept the book on his desk throughout the conflict. Panzer Battles is a candid and forthright discussion of the War that reflects not only von Mellenthin's intimate knowledge of the workings of the German General Staff, but a thorough familiarity with the Allies' strategic aims. It is a work that has taken its place among those of Liddell Hart, J.F.C. Fuller and Chester Wilmot as essential reading for anyone interested in the military aspects of the war in Europe.
Customer Reviews:
A bird's eye view.......2007-06-06
Panzer Battles is a wonderful overview of practically all major tank battles of World War II. Major General F.W. von Mellenthin has personally been involved in them and gives his account in a well-balanced and honest way. I found it a thrilling story and read it with much pleasure.
In a memoir there are always moments missed and mistakes made, but in this case they are few and understandable. For example, only recently it was found out that Polish cavalry did not attack German panzers. If you are looking for an account on the war in North Africa, read the Rommel Papers. If you are looking for an account on the battle of Kursk, read Glantz. And I could go on like this. But for a solid overview of the major tank battles this is a must-read!
Panzer Battles.......2007-05-04
This is the best book I have read about the war. I found Mellenthin's thoughts on the psychology of the Russians particularly interesting.
A facinating read!.......2007-04-07
I found this book at Barnes and Noble. They had it as a special reprint so I figured "why not?"
I am glad I did!
This is the perspectives of a man who served as staff officer in the command centers during the campaigns of Poland, France, Balkans, Africa, Russia and the West.
A great deal of the book centers around Rommel and he offers insight to the man and obviously he respected him highly. He also speaks highly of Manstein and Balck.
Von Mellenthin set out to write a book of war and tactics. Much of the book centers on the successes as I think he was attempting to show the Soviet Army could be fought if they were understood and and well trained forces opposed them. He speaks of this at the conclusion and even has a chapter discussing the Red Army and mostly the average soldier and his mindset.
He says he wanted to show the successes of the military and I think hoped they are not dismissed by the actions of the Nazis.
I think for the most part he tried to be impartial and tried to give complements and criticism were they were do.
One thing I thought was interesting was the fact that Operation Bagration was barely mentioned. However, he does write that that particular campaign was on a far larger scale then D-Day.
He does address the affects of the attempted assassination of Hitler and if it succeeded it would have ended the war maybe in 1944 but there would have been an internal battle mostly by the Waffen SS if it had happened.
He spoke of the affects of bombing campaign on production and mentions Speer's comments that peek production was reached in 1944. The aspect that did them in was the fact that fuel production was heavily targeted and that was what really did them in because Jets and Tanks still needed fuel. He posed the question as to what would have happened in the war if the oil fields of the Caucuses were taken instead of the ill-fated attempt at Stalingrad.
He also gives opinions to Hitler's bad decisions during critical moments in campaigns. Particular his decrees to stand and die versus giving up ground.
Over all the book is an excellent addition to any library of WWII.
Exciting story of the panzers on campaign, but be careful which edition you will choose.......2006-12-12
This book belongs to the classic literature of World War II, as von Mellenthin took part in some of the most exciting and hard fought campaigns and served under great panzer leaders like Rommel, Balck and Manteuffel in the original triumphs of blitzkrieg and also in the last desperate defensive battles. Be careful though which edition of the book you will choose because that of the Arcadia Publishing (ISBN 0752420216) has no maps at all (although it contains numerous black and white photos) thus it is very difficult for the reader to follow the action. I think that the best edition so far is the hardcover published recently by Konecky & Konecky (ISBN 1568525788) which has all the necessary maps of the various campaigns. And they are many, indeed!
Detailed, colorful, well written, engrossing, and entertaining.......2006-11-22
Detailed, colorful, well written, engrossing, and entertaining.
Mellenthin was Major General and chief of staff of the German Fifth Panzer Army. He fought battles in Poland, France, the Balkans, the Western desert, Russia, Ardennes and the Rhineland. He gives us in detail, with periodically inserted maps, the German Panzer movements and tactics; accounts the enemy operations comparatively from his perspective; how armaments and tactics compared between us and the enemy--a military lesson.
Fortunate for us the German generals were not permitted to run the war. Once Poland was taken it looked as if Germany, with their military leadership and might, would take over the world. With the British poor management, French capitulation and the U.S. indifference it may have well happened. Were it not for the Russian masses, who's to say........
Mellenthin donates a good part of the book writing on Rommel's mastery and the leadership of the officers. He quotes from General Guderian's "Panzer Leader" throughout. The bulk of the book covers Russia, and he discusses his views on the Russian fighting man; this is excellent. Very little is mentioned on the fierce Tiger tank. The discipline remained till the end.
He refrains from discussing the political failure instead concentrating on the military side. Mellenthin did not realize the atrocities by Hitler till he was taken prisoner. He has an afterthought: how may the outcome changed if the war was fought differently. Did he approve of the domination? Was he just another General under orders?
Wish you well
Scott
Book Description
With the same drama and excitement of the first book, Franz Kurowski relates the combat careers of six more decorated German Panzer officers in this sequel to the well-regarded Panzer Aces.. Extensively researched, these gripping accounts follow the men and their tanks across three continents into some of World War II's bloodiest engagements. They campaigned with Rommel in the deserts of North Africa, participated in the monumental tank battle at Kursk, and, maneuvering only by muzzle flashes, fought frightening small-unit contests in the dark of night. Master tacticians and gutsy leaders, these men are legends. Includes chapters on Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski, Kurt Knispel, Karl Nicolussi-Leck, and other great commanders.
Customer Reviews:
A joy to read........2006-06-14
Panzer Aces II is presented in a short story format with details on six german officers. A few of the biographies seemed to short. However the accounts of the action on the eastern front by Major Sepp Brandner should be considered the focal point of the book. With against all odds fighting and an engaging storyline, you should enjoy this book.
Excellent 1st person accounts.......2005-07-05
Another excellent book of 1st hand accounts of those who served and fought. The book could be improved with some maps of the major battles of where each of those aces had fought. The book series provides excellent detail on the challenges of an individual soldier, a leader, and the mundane tasks that become hazardous under fire.
One example is how in one battle on the eastern front, the tank throws a track after hitting a mine. While under fire, the crew dismounts, repairs the track, gets back into battle and later gets stuck again, unable to participate in operation. Another experience is how nearing the surrender of Germany, a command group goes from the factory to pick up new armored fighting vehicles and has to go searching for fuel and ammunition while avoiding the advancing American units.
These real first hand accounts are not found in history books which give the overall view of the battles and campaigns. These accounts are a good way to learn and study individual leadership and heroism in the face of danger.
If one compares these first person accounts with other history books, a good analysis of each battle can be developed and examined.
This book is not as good as Panzer Aces I or Infantry Aces however.
A Good Book.....For long nights.......2005-05-15
This book is not at all like Panzer Aces I. I had no problem putting the book down. I couldn't believe the editorial mistakes and the spelling of "Diesel" Althru the book it mispelled diesel, it drove me crazy. The book at times got long winded, as if the editor was short of pages. I thought Infrantry Aces, Panzer Aces and Luftwaffe Aces were exceptional work of Franz Kurowski. But this book was a little disapointing. For for the price, it's well worth it. I paid a fortune thru Fedorowicz. I just wish Amazon would put more books for sale by Franz Kurowski
Good Men, Wrong Side........2004-10-29
Following the concept in Volume I, this is really the stories of six men. They were soldiers. And they were on the side of the Germans during World War II. They fought on both the Eastern and Western fronts. They appear to have been good men, and for the most part they were incredibly lucky. They began the war at its start. Three of the six survived the war - perhaps it helps to survive to get to tell your story to the book writers.
These stories are interesting because they present a side of the war not often seen in the United States. These men were fighting against us, and they were on the losing side. Still they were men, and they tried to do the best they could for their country. I think anyone will agree that these men were provided with just about the best equipment of any army. But during the war the Germans built about 40,000 tanks. The United States alone built some 88,000, the Soviet Union built more than that.
Book Description
In the first months of 1943, the SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" was involved in all phases of the series of operations in the complex Kharkov campaign. During the initial defensive fighting, the division held its sector for two weeks against the full weight of the Soviet 3rd Tank Army, a remarkable feat in itself. After the city fell, "Leibstandarte" withdrew to a new defensive position and protected the important supply rail center at Krasnograd while the "Das Reich" and "Totenkopf" divisions executed the first phase of the counterattack. When the 3rd Tank Army began its move south to block the advance of these two SS divisions "Leibstandarte" carried out raids and interdictory strikes that disrupted the Soviet realignment and weakened the army¹s fighting power.
Once having rejoined the SS-Panzerkorps, after taking part in the destruction of the Kegitschevka pocket, "Leibstandarte" led the way back to the city of Kharkov. Dynamic young officers such as Kurt Meyer, Max Wunsche and Jochen Peiper personally led attack columns that struck deep into the city, eventually forcing the Russian troops to abandon Kharkov.
When "Leibstandarte's" role in each phase of Manstein¹s Kharkov counterattack is taken into consideration it is clear why its men, after enduring the losses necessary to retake the city¹s blood stained streets and ruined buildings, renamed the enormous Red Square as "Platz der Leibstandarte." Beautifully reproduced wartime photos, and compelling captions by author George Nipe illustrate in incredible detail the men, equipment, weapons, and vehicles used in this decisive Eastern Front battle.
Customer Reviews:
No regrets here, must have history for students of the Waffen SS........2007-06-20
This is an outstanding volume and the quality of the book is top drawer. This is a photo history of the Kharkov battle, not a text-filled boring analysis. All of the photos used come from SS war correspondents, so some of them have been seen before in other books, but as someone already stated, here they are laid out in sequence, in the order in which the photographers took them - something I've not seen before.
The photos and the events they portray are well captioned, and each aspect of the battle, start to finish, is laid out quite well through these invaluable photos.
There are also very good short biographies of the commanders of the LSSAH, and while I didn't really care for the artwork of these commanders (a bit too "modern" looking for me), overall, it is a superb book.
If you are a student of the tactics or personalities of the Waffen SS, this is a must-have book. Well worth the price.
An amazing photographic archive .......2007-01-10
This book was one of my favorites - an incredible photographic archive of the 1st SS "Liebstandarte" division in action during the pivotal Kharkov battles in 1943. Many of the photos have not been previously published and are of a very high quality. I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in the Eastern Front!
couldn`t be better.......2006-11-04
superb pix of AFV`s & frontschwine, good maps which show the battles rolling back & forth, the captions are paragraph length with useful info. If you know nothing about this battle , you`ll get a lot from the book. If you`re East-Front-Avid, you may have seen some[10%] of the pix elsewhere, but you`ll still get a lot of detail from the captions.
Outstanding Photo History.......2006-01-07
Rare is the book that provides pictures that are actually related to the text provided. Even rarer still are pictures that capture in sequence the entire event. Such is the case with this volume. From start to finish the reader is presented with a sequence of photographs that literally document aspects of the complete campaign for Kharkov in the winter of 1943.
The pictures are also notable for depictions of many well-known and other lesser known figures of the Leibstandarte, Das Reich, and Totenkopf divisions. Of particular interest are those photos showing a young Jochen Peiper in action. This photographic volume also has a remarkable series of photos showing the fate of a Soviet horse drawn column as it is overtaken by Peiper's Kampfgruppe. Not a happy ending to be certain, but a very real glimpse into the realities of combat on the Eastern Front. In fact, one must wonder how similar the context of the events that would occur at Malmedy over a year later, when an American column would be overtaken by another of Peiper's Kampfgruppes. Certainly, the pictures in this book show a no quarter given attitude for the advancing German kampfgruppe.
For the generalist, this volume will be an interesting look at German formations in action. However, for the serious historian, the pictures clearly show the players, weather, terrain, and operational activities of the Waffen SS all at a given place and point in time.
This book is a must for any serious library on German arms or the Waffen SS in particular.
Great Photo Book.......2003-02-20
Fabulous photos for students of the Eastern Front, Waffen-SS and modelers. What I found most interesting were the amounts of obsolete equipment (ie: Mk III tanks) used by this elite division. This certainly puts into question the accepted theory that the Waffen-SS received the latest equipment in quanity at the expense of the Heer (army). If this is the case, then it supports the notion that the men of the Waffen-SS were indeed superior soldiers.
Book Description
A powerful German counterattack in Normandy in August 1944 might have been one of the Wehrmacht's great shining moments in the Second World War. The odds were certainly in their favor. Determined to drive the Allies back to the English Channel, elements of four combat-hardened panzer divisions faced off against a single American infantry division near the town of Mortain. Instead, the Americans held their ground, enabling the Allied armies to secure the invasion and ultimately liberate France.
In a vivid recreation of this pivotal battle--less celebrated than the encounter at the Falaise Pocket but just as decisive--Mark Reardon tells how the 30th Infantry Division held off the German panzer juggernaut, which was designed to drive a wedge between Allied forces. In recounting this showdown, he offers a new perspective on the German defeat in Normandy and a convincing counterpoint to the conventional view of most military analysts that Germany lost the war as a result of Allied matériel superiority or Hitler's strategic meddling.
Through vigorous prose laced with compelling anecdotes, Reardon reconstructs the battle from both sides of the firing line to explain why it evolved and ended as it did. He reveals how professional rivalries and lack of accurate battlefield information hampered the efforts of German generals to execute a successful counteroffensive. He also tells how the U.S. Army profited from the bitter lessons of hedgerow fighting to gain superiority in ground maneuver, fire support, and the use of airpower, logistics, communications, and reconnaissance in the face of more experienced and better armed opponents.
Reardon's riveting tale reveals that Americans GIs could fight as well as their more vaunted opponent, which gave the U.S. Army the confidence it needed to take the war into the enemy's homeland. Equally important, their victory prevented the Germans from retaking strategic points that would have kept the war bottled up in Normandy.
Drawing not only on exhaustive research in Anglo-American and German archives but also on firsthand accounts by more than two hundred American soldiers, Reardon's detailed reconstruction fills an important gap in the history of World War II combat that has existed for more than half a century.
This book is part of the Modern War Studies series.
Customer Reviews:
Great accounting of action.......2006-03-12
This book allowed me to look through the eyes of a person who was there. My father was a forward observer for the 113th and I believe he was there on that hill with the author. thanks for the opportunity to live it also.
Historical analysis that's actually exciting.......2004-09-28
Victory at Mortain is a comprehensive look at the German counterattack toward Avranches in early August, just following the COBRA breakout in Normandy. Reardon's book is useful, as the battle is under-studied and not widely known. Indeed there is only one other widely available and read book on the subject (Featherstone's Saving the Breakout). Further, Reardon's book is very good in that it provides insights into both German and US command decisions and tactical movements. In this way, it becomes easy for the reader to see exactly how both sides were making decisions, and how those choices directly played out on the battlefield.
Reardon starts his book with two chapters devoted to the situation in Normandy from July to the first few days of August 1944. These chapters show what the German plan for defense was (contain, contain, contain), and how the US breakout from Normandy progressed. This serves to set the context for the rest of the book. The very nature of the breakout served to "offer up" the option of a German counterattack through the Mortain area toward Avranches. This town represented the tenuous link between US Armies (First and Third) and served as the primary logistics/supply rout. Moving south through Avranches, US forces of the Third Army could and did turn west into Brittany and east to threaten the southern flank of the German 7th Army, which was trying to contain the US First Army. A German breakthrough to Avranches would surround most of the Third Army and have the simultaneous effect of solidifying the German 7th Army positions. This would have allowed the Germans to shift more resources to continue to contain the Normandy lodgments. It would have been a stunning blow to the Americans and would have completely derailed the Allied breakout from the vicious boccage country of Normandy.
Of course, this didn't happen. The counterattack (Operation Luttich) failed, largely due to an inauspicious infantry division...the US 30th. Although it got help at key points in the counterstrike against the German thrust from portions of the 2nd Armored Division (on the southern flank) and the 3 Armored Division (on the northern flank), the 30th bore the brunt of the initial onslaught. Being able to stop an entire Panzerkorp (including the vaunted 1st and 2nd SS Panzer Divisions, the 116th Panzer Division, the 2nd Panzer Division, and part of the 17th SS Panzergrenadier division) dead in its tracks is an amazing achievement. Reardon shows us that the German attack failed due to a combination of factors: bad German staff planning, bad German battlefield tactics, tenacious US roadblocks, the aggressiveness of the US 119th, 120th, and 117th regimental commanders, US artillery and airpower, and a bold American (3rd Army) thrust toward LeMans southeast of the battlefield and subsequent drive north to envelope the units that had participated in Operation Luttich in the Falaise Pocket.
Unlike the conventional wisdom about the battle, which focuses excessively on the the struggle for Hill 314 and the trapped second battalion, 120th infantry, Reardon spends more time on the attack through St. Barthelmy, and the northern flank, which represented the Germans' main push. He convincingly shows that the few AT guns and the battalion's worth of infantry holding St. Barthelmy effectively derailed the German plans. Further, Reardon faults German commanders for not bypassing the town, who instead chose to continue to ram against the US defenders. Although the Germans eventually did take the town, the other German units to the north now had an exposed flank. The Germans failed to press hard and stopped their advanced units, which then had to retreat. This action, and armored thrusts around Barenton (southeast of Mortain) were the keys to halting the German advance. Additionally, Reardon faults the Germans for uninspired leadership, for not securing the southeast flank at Barenton, for failing to use recon units in their proper role of info gathering rather than combat units, for failing to coordinate with the Luftwaffe, and for mismanaging artillery assets. These German problems, coupled with good regimental leadership on the US side, added up to a US victory.
Reardon does give pause, however. Had the Germans been more adept in their attack, it's not clear the Americans would have been able to contain them. Reardon notes that the divisional command functions nearly completely failed (or were non-existent). The 30th Infantry Division did not fight as a division, but rather are three nearly-independent regiments. This hampered coordination between regiments, hindered the ability to link artillery and armor assets with the battalions that needed them, and hurt the ability to time the counterattack against the Germans. In the end, bad German tactics and leadership, coupled with a sweep to LeMans to tear open the southern flank of the German army, is what sealed the deal.
This is a very good book. It is a useful history in that it provides an analysis and critique of both sides' command decisions, and displays how those decisions turned out on the battlefield. In my opinion, it is the definitive account of the German offensive at Mortain. My only problem with the book is that in places the text jumps temporally; there are places where a new section of the book will describe events that occurred prior to what was just happening in the previous section. This got very confusing, and at several places I had to jump back about a hundred pages to reference earlier text and maps. With some patience, however, this can be dealt with by any reader.
Only for the specialist.......2004-05-01
Starting on a positive note, this book is impressively researched, with dozens of original interviews.
But it is very poorly organized and difficult to read. When presenting a complex series of events, it is the author's responsibility to provide the reader with some kind of framework for following those events -- something more than "this happened, then this happened, then this other thing happened." Instead of providing this framework at the start of a chapter, where it would be useful, the author presents it at the end of the chapter, in a brief and not always helpful "conclusion."
Some of the chapters are essentially useless data dumps. The third chapter deals with German dithering about the units that will be devoted to the Mortain attack. The result is 20 pages of "first they decided to send X batallion, then they changed their minds, then they changed their minds back..." This could have been usefully compressed to about a page -- I'm not sure even a specialist would find this information useful, unless he or she is into unit histories.
Finally, the maps are awful. They are completely static, with no start or stop lines, lines of attacks or boundaries of control -- just unit symbols plunked down in the general area the unit occupied at a particular point in the battle.
Altogether, a hard slog.
The Biggest German Counterattack in France in WW II.......2002-09-21
Mark Reardon's description of The Battle of Mortain is an outstanding contribution to military history. In this comprehensive study of the largest German counterattack in France in World War II, he sets forth the background of this momentus struggle, gives the reader the detail and blow-by-blow of the battle as it raged for six days and then sets forth a thoughtful and fresh analysis of what was important in bringing about the victory of the American forces.
By this work Mark Reardon has not only added significantly to the literature of World War II but has assured for himself a place in the front rank of military historians.
Robert Weiss, author of "Enemy North, South, East, West" soon to be reprinted as "Fire Mission! The Siege at Mortain, Normandy"
Superlative History of a Little Known but Crucial Battle.......2002-07-05
I will admit to being drawn to the ominous cover art when browsing AMAZON on line, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book was one of the best histories of the crucial Normandy campaign that I have ever read. When comparing it to the US Army official history of that period, BREAKOUT AND PURSUIT, I found that the official version of the Battle of Mortain was replete with errors and omissions regarding both the activities of the Germans and Americans. For instance, the author of the official history did not use the S-3 Journal of the 120th Infantry Regiment, a unit that is arguably the centerpiece of the whole battle. When discussing the German perspective, the official history is even further off base. As one may have surmised, Reardon uses a plethora of primary sources and recently published German accounts. The depth of his research is truly impressive. His style of writing is a curious blend of factual narrative and descriptive prose. It personalizes the events yet Reardon does not sensationalize the ugly face of war, confusion, and death. If you are not familiar with the military, I recommend xeroxing his map key and placing it next to you before reading the book. The military symbols may be confusing for the novice WW2 enthusiast. Great book!!
Book Description
It was remarkable strategic effrontery to consider a major offensive even as the German Army was in the midst of its most punishing losses in five years of war. Yet Hitler insisted on the original, ambitious magnitude of his plan to stop the advance of the Allies, and strike a destructive counter-blow. Under the overall command of Feldmarschall Walter Model's Heeresgruppe B, Josef Dietrich's Panzer Armee was to spearhead the attack in the Ardennes' Northern Sector, together with the Volksgrenadiers. The stakes were high: Dietrich knew it was an offensive that would prove decisive in the course of the war.
Customer Reviews:
Superb Battle Detail.......2000-09-09
The book, Ardennes Offensive - VI Panzer Armee, is a must have for the serious reader of the Battle of the Bulge. It covers the battles on the northern front from the German point of view. This book provides excellent detail which I have not found in other books. In particular, it provides detailed maps for each significant action. These maps are usually in a scale of 1 inch per mile and they show tree lines, elevations, and locations of buildings and combat units. I was also impressed that the maps showed which bridges were destroyed by American engineers and how it altered the advance of the German formations. I got a better sense of what was happening by studying these maps than reading many narratives. The book's narrative was also excellent in that it listed the types and quantities of tanks in the German divisions and the ones used in combat. Because this is just the first book in a series, it does not provide an overview of the offensive as a whole. Also, it concentrates on what happened and offers little insight on the human elements of the battle (ie, what it was like from an individual soldier's view or from a civilian's view who were there). I'd suggest that a person maybe read an overview book such as Osprey's Ardennes 1944 for a quick overview or Combined Books' Battle Of The Bulge for an overview with additional human interest insights. The second book in the series, Ardennes Offensive - V US Corps & XVIII US Corps, is another excellent book in the series. It covers the battles in the northern front from the US viewpoint. Like the companion book, Ardennes Offensive - VI Panzer Armee, it provides excellent battle detail. It provides detailed maps for each significant action which are usually in a scale of 1 inch per mile. They show tree line, elevations, and locations of buildings and combat units. But unlike the companion book, the breakdown of the types and numbers of US tanks is not quite as detailed. This was disappointing since some Sherman tanks did have the better 76mm gun and it is unclear which units had them. Also, it would have been interesting if the book could have indicated what type of AP ammunition was carried by the units since some units had HEAT in addition to AP rounds. Both of these books only cover the period of the German offensive until its containment. They do not cover the Allied counter attacks after Dec 26. Overall, I'm very pleased with the books and look forward to purchasing the remainder in the series. I hope they will include books on the Allied counter offensive. I also hope that they do a series on Bagration.
Superb Battle Detail.......2000-09-09
This book, the first in a series of 6, is a must have for the serious reader of the Battle of the Bulge. This is because it provides detailed maps of the actions showing tree lines, elevations, and locations of buildings and units. Most maps are in the scale of about 1 inch per mile. The book also lists the number and types of tanks involved in the actions. People may prefer reading an overview book of the battle such as Osprey's Ardennes 1944 or Combined Books' Battle of the Bulge before reading this series.
Superb Battle Detail.......2000-09-04
This book is a must for serious readers of this battle. Unlike others, this book provides detailed maps and troop lists for each significant action fought. The maps are usually 1 inch per mile and show woodlines, elevations, and locations of buildings and units. The book also details the quantities and types of tanks in the engagements. I understand this is the 1st in a series of 6 books which cover the battle. People may want to read an overview book of the battle such as Osprey's Ardennes 1944 or Combined Book's Battle of the Buldge before reading this series.
Book Description
Analysing, day by day, the sometimes epic tank battles following the Normandy landings, this book presents an extraordinary array of photographs from the time. The photos are accompanied by detailed captions, which will be invaluable to all tank enthusiasts, together with a compelling narrative.
Customer Reviews:
Deathride of the Panzer elite.......2007-01-31
This is a very interesting book which covers the period of the 5th June to 20th July 1944 and deals with the German Panzer divisions in the battle for Normandy during this time.
It is not very large book being a little under 170 pages, but its contents especially its photographs are outstanding.
There are a great many pictures of the men and fighting machines that made up some of Germanys elite Panzer divisions, such units as the Panzer Lehr, Leibstandatre, 21 Panzer Division, Hitlerjugend and the Heavy Tank battalions of both the Army and Waffen SS feature prominently.
There are also excellent maps of the battlegrounds such as Operation Goodwood and Villiers Bocage to name a few.
As well there are colour drawings of some of the units armour and even the uniforms of the tankers. But the photos some of which are the then and now variety truly are exceptional.
However in amongst the photos is the text that deals briefly with the major actions the panzers fought in and personal accounts of the men who were there.The book is divided into sections that deal with the major battles during the time period and provides a brief but informative view of the battles.
It is well written and easy to follow with enough information inside to keep you interested till the final pages, which are the colour insignia of the german units.
If you are looking for a truly in depth coverage of the Battle of Normandy this is not for you but if your interest is the Panzer elite and its battles then this book is highly recommended
Product Description
2004 hard bound with illustrated color cover, 9x12, glossy page stock, 475+ pages, nearly 1,000 footnotes, 16 pages of photos, 124 appendices and a separate 32 page full color map book. Georg Maier, the former Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the 6. (SS)-Panzer-Armee, has written not only a monumental history of his former field army but a sweeping account of the little-known fighting on the southern portion of the Eastern Front in the final months of the war. Maier provides a truly objective overview of those operations by making use of primary sources documents, war diaries and surviving senior commanders to show the reader how decisions were made at senior levels of command and how certain post-war memoirs have only distorted the picture of what really happened in the final few months of the war. As such, it encompasses the operations of four different Waffen-SS corps and, by extension, nearly all of the name divisions of the Waffen-SS: The 1. SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, the 2. SS-Panzer-Division Das Reich, the 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf, the 5. SS-Panzer-Division Wiking, the 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen and the 12. SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend. In addition, many of the most-famous Army armored divisions were involved in this fighting: the 1. Panzer-Division, the 3. Panzer-Division, the 6. Panzer-Division and the 23. Panzer-Division. Maier starts his narrative with the brutal and ill-fated fighting to relieve the encircled city of Budapest and the IX. SS-Gebirgs-Korps by Armeegruppe Balck (primarily by the IV. SS-Panzer-Korps). This is followed by the ill-fated Lake Balaton offensive, where the 6. Panzer-Armee comprised of the I. SS-Panzer-Korps and the II. SS-Panzer-Korps, among other formations was bled white combating prepared Soviet defenses in terrain that was completely ill suited for armored warfare. He then chronicles all the fighting to the end in Vienna.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for a student of the Eastern Front.......2006-05-09
Like the guy said above, don't purchase this book unless you're like me, an avid "nut" about the Eastern Front during WWII. It's well written and documented, but you have to really know what's been going on up until this ill-fated and timed offensive.
Highly detailed insider's account.......2006-01-04
This book is a prodigious effort and I must admit that I was looking for it ever since I first saw it in German years ago in a small shop in Rothenburg ob der Tauber run by a former member of the 503rd Schwere Panzer Abteilung. It is primarily a day by day account of the battles of the SS formations and has an apologists stamp to it.
This book was written about a time when the German Army could no longer dictate the tempo at the strategic or operational level of war. However, at the tactical level, they remained highly effective. German formations remained capable of delivering hard blows in response to Soviet operations, but were no longer able to successfully conduct a major offensive operation. The high command, driven by Hitler, remained determined to do so however. This resulted in the grinding down by attrition of available combat power. At the height of their conquests, Germany had greater depth and capacity to make good losses, but that ability had long since vanished in the reverses of late 1943 and 1944. And now, beginning in December of 1944, there is the increasing realization that the conditions no longer exist for operations on a grand scale. This is a fact that Hitler refuses to accept. Carefully husbanded resources are squandered in attempting to force a decision in the face of adverse conditions and superior combat power. This merely creates the conditions for Soviet success at the operational level by writing down German strength and tying up reserves.
This is the case for the main event in this book, Operation "Spring Awakening", an ill conceived, ill timed offensive designed to keep Hungary and Hungarian resources in the war and protect Vienna. In events reminiscent of Burnside's "Mud March", the 6th Panzer Army struggled to mount a major offensive after pulling out of a major battle in the Ardennes. The fact that they were able to mount an offensive at all is a testament to their determination and ability. The wisdom of mounting it speaks less so. Heavy weapons, particularly in the case of the II SS Panzer Corps could not be brought forward by LD due to terrain and weather. There was little doubt about the location and timing of the offensive. Once begun, the offensive was characterized as much by the type of head- on bludgeoning that we consider more in the style of the Soviets. And yet there was some degree of success. However, as the offensive had obviously begun to run its course, it became apparent to operational commanders that danger lurked elsewhere, to the northern flank covered by Hungarian forces. Once again, the Soviets seized the initiative and began to dictate the course of events that lead to the eventual final surrender.
The dominant theme running through the book is the internal conflict between primarily General Hermann Balck and a variety of SS leaders, most specifically Gille, commander of the IV SS Panzer Corps and Dietrich, commander of the 6th Panzer Army. This was not the Hermann Balck who successfully commanded on the Eastern Front in 1943. By this period, he had tasted defeat at higher levels of command and was now commanding at the Army level. As the Germans became less able to win above the tactical level, it became increasingly important to avert blame, the price of failure could be high. The author's contention is that this had become Balck's prime concern and he sought to turn the spot light from himself to the SS formations and leadership as success became elusive. The author, as a member of the operations staff of the 6th Panzer Army, has his own ax to grind as well. He naturally seeks to defend the actions of the SS units, with some amount of justification. This conflict, while much the center piece, overlays the larger conflict within German command structures that overlays all operations by this point in the war.
This book is not for the casual reader. The expense alone will screen out much of the potential audience. It is highly detailed and is accompanied by a separate folio of maps - a must for trying to following the tale amid confusing names and the changing situation. I found myself having to stop periodically and carefully review the appropriate map references or in several cases I became completely lost. It is a day by day account of Army and Corps level operations, it draws from first person accounts and detailed sources. To get the individual or tactical perspective, I would recommend reading Hubert Meyer, Otto Weidinger, or Will Fey who are focused on the tactical level. I do not regret spending the money for this book, but it is neither easy nor casual reading. I highly recommend it. Just understand what you are signing up for from the start.
Book Description
*8 x 10
* The most complete study of all panzer and artillery units
* Includes an analysis of the evolution of the panzer arm in the 1920's and 1930's
This reference work details the exact composition of German panzer and artillery forces in WW II, including the formation and organization of these units throughout the conflict.
George F. Nafziger is a foremost historian specializing in WW II and Napoleonic military organization. His previous books include Imperial Bayonets and Napoleon's Invasion of Russia.
Customer Reviews:
Once again, the story is left uncomplete.......2000-04-24
There have been few, if any, English language works on the German Order of Battle (OOB) in World War II that can compare with the multi-volume German language work of Georg Tessin.
While Mr. Nafziger's work compiles much valuable information about the German armored and artillery forces into a single volume, there are certain aspects of the work that detract from its worth.
There are occasional typos such as "Detuschland" which are unfortunate and hard to understand in an era of spell-checking routines built into every word processor.
Perhaps the largest problem with the volume is what has been left out. The most glaring omission has been the Panzer and Panzergrenadier units of the Waffen SS. It would be very handy to have a single English language source on all of Germany's armored units during the war. Mr. Nafziger does include Luftwaffe armored units, and hybrid organizations such as Panzerjaeger and Sturmartillerie. However, it appears the heavy independent tank battalions rate only minor mention, and the listing on Panzerjaeger units is, by Mr. Nafziger's admission, incomplete.
There is only occasional mention of the theaters in which the units were employed. This seemingly minor omission greatly reduces the worth of Mr. Nafziger's work, for it means once again works more difficult to obtain (Tessin for example) must be consulted to perform true order of battle analysis. Even a sketch outline of when the unit was in which theaters would have been far better than nothing. This is particularly needed in the case of Heerestruppen (army and corps level units) as there are practically no works addressing their deployment during the war.
I also wish Mr. Nafziger would make more use of original German terms instead of nonstandard translations. For example, he refers to "garrison artillery" [?], which I believe to have been what the Germans called "Festung Artillerie". The lack of mention of "Festung Artillerie" units in the work tends to support this belief, but such second-guessing should not be necessary in a reference work.
There appear to be some minor factual errors in the book, such as a bicycle brigade in Poland in 1945 that is not mentioned. Overall, though, for the units that Mr. Nafziger has chosen to include in the work, the material appears to be accurate and quite well organized. One can easily locate a particular unit and determine its equipment and organization at various points during the war.
The tables of organization for various units during different points in the war are very useful, as are the listings of the Heerestruppen artillery park units. I would like to be able to give this book a higher rating, but it unfortunately is like many English language books on the German OOB in that it addresses the topic incompletely.
Having said that, for the layman it is an excellent reference. It is only for the specialist that the omissions in the work have real significance.
German Order of Battle: Panzers & Artillery of WW II.......2000-03-19
A massive, superbly researched and vital addition to the study of the Wehrmacht which is sure to rate as vital to the subject as Keilig and Tessin do now. My only grumble is that more coverage of the higher organisations (Korps/Armees etc.) would have been nice. Buy it!
A must have reference book.......1999-07-13
Excellent reference book for those who study WW2 history
Book Description
In the final years of World War II, the outnum- bered Waffen-SS capitalized on superior training, equipment, and commanders to plug several open gaps on the Eastern Front. Explanations include the use of offensive tactics as defensive maneuvers, the development of tank technology, and methods that allowed the Germans to survive fierce Russian bombardments.
Customer Reviews:
a rather dull treatment.......2003-09-15
I've tried to get on with this book since it deals with a favourite topic of mine. Author Ripley is a well respected writer & all-rounder in the defense field. However, for me Tim Ripley is above all known as an aviation correspondent..for example I recall a well-done recent article on the Israeli air force in Air International magazine. Thus I have the rather strong impression that Ripley is not entirely on home territory with this work, either in regard to the Waffen SS or tank battles in particular. I think this becomes evident in a reading of the book, which although presenting a comprehensive and detailed overview, is ultimately a pretty bland synopsis. In addition there is a total lack of reference to German language sources in his bibliography, which points up another weakness in this work; the complete absence of first person accounts, which makes for an extremely dry writing style. I'm very much of the opinion that someone writing about German forces in WWII should at least have some elementary knowledge of the German language if he wants to be taken seriously. Given that there now exists decent translations of works by Tiger Kommandanten such as Otto Carius, Willi Fey, not to mention Agte's hugh biographies of Wittman & Peiper, I find this omission inexplicable. Finally, I'm not overly impressed with the photo content, rather too many well known shots of commanders are featured. Robert Michulec's cheap picture books on the Panzers in the East contain far more interesting images..and for a general overview of the Panzerkrieg McCarthy & Syron's work is ultimately more satisfactory..
Excellent Book, But..........2002-06-29
while highly recommended, I don't think I'd pay money]. I only paid [money] a couple of years ago. Guess I made a good investment. ... Anyway, since I'm such a die-hard Waffen SS collector, I most likely won't reap the return as I have no plans on selling it.
No-nonsense clinical account of the Waffen-SS in Russia........2002-04-27
Written by the world-renowned correspondent and journalist, Tim Ripley, "SS Steel Storm" is a strictly no-nonsense, chronological account of the major battles of Himmler's dreaded Waffen-SS Panzer Divisions on the Eastern Front from 1943 - 1945, beginning with von Manstein's counter-offensive at Kharkov.
Albeit an interesting and factual documentary that dispells many of the myths surrounding the major Eastern Front battles (for example, the misconception that the titanic clash of armour at Phrokorovka during the Battle of Kursk involved a one-off, set-piece, slugfest between thousands of German and Soviet tanks is set straight in the chapter on the battle),I found Mr. Ripley's treatment of his subject a tad on the dry side. For the avid military enthusiast who relishes a rivetting fast read, this IS NOT your cup of tea! True, the text is laden with facts, figures and useful appendices, as well as being awash with scores of maps and b/w photographs, but it unfortunately reads more like a high-school history textbook than a dramatic treatment of one of history's most gifted fighting formations. The total absence of eye-witness testimonials is exactly what lets down an otherwise informative book. That "you are there" aspect so important for the student of this theatre of WW2 has been gnored for reasons unknown.
If you are a newcomer to the Eastern Front, you may want to buy this book for the wonderful facts and figures it provides so generously - and if you can afford its not-so-generous cost. The expert may want to give it a miss.
really good book........2002-03-18
i consider myself a student of the eastern front wars, and have seen my share of bad books. This book is good about what it claims, ie role of waffen SS in the various eastern front wars. clear and concise with some very good photographs.
Makes me want to hop in a "tiger" and blow up stuff!!!.......2001-08-25
This book offers great details and info on the battles of the ss in the east. Great pictures and presentation go along with the great info......not a bad price either
Books:
- Gateway to Texas: History of Red River County
- General James Longstreet: The Confederacy's Most Controversial Soldier : A Biography
- Geometry Workbook For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science))
- Germany's Panther Tank the Quest for Combat Supremacy: Development - Modifications - Rare Variants - Characteristics - Combat Accounts (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)
- Gettysburg 1863: High Tide of the Confederacy (Praeger Illustrated Military History)
- Great Maps of the Civil War: Pivotal Battles and Campaigns Featuring 32 Removable Maps (Museum in a Book, 2)
- Hannibal Crosses the Alps: The Invasion of Italy and the Second Punic War
- HELL'S HIGHWAY: Chronicle of the 101st Airborne Division in the Holland Campaign, September - November 1944
- Highlanders: A History of the Scottish Clans
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- How to Succeed in the Game of Life: 34 Interviews with the World's Greatest Coaches
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- The Story of My Disappearance
- The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little G
- Woody Allen on Woody Allen
- Atom-Photon Interactions: Basic Processes and Applications
- An Invitation to Environmental Sociology
- Balkan Economic History, 1550-1950: From Imperial Borderlands to Developing Nations
- There Is No Place Like Work: Seven Leadership Insights for Creating a Workplace to Call Home
- The Smart Manager's F.A.Q. Guide: A Survival Handbook for Today's Workplace
General
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Sledgehammers: Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II
Panzer Tactics: German Small-Unit Armor Tactics in World War II
Grenadiers: The Story Of Waffen SS General Kurt 'Panzer' Meyer (Stackpole Military History)
Black Edelweiss: A Memoir of Combat and Conscience by a Soldier of the Waffen-SS
Seven Days in January: With the 6th SS-Mountain Division in Operation NORDWIND
